lawrence



4CHARLES W. VLAWRENCE,OF MILTON, INDIANA. Laim-.g Para No. 62,140, @and .na-ary 19, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPRING HINGES.

TO WHOM IT MAY GONCERN:

Be it known that I, C. W. LAWRENCE, of h-Iilton, in the county of Wayne, and State of'iIndiana-,Ihave invented certain new and u set'ul Improvements in Spring Hinges; .and I hereby declare -the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which represents a horizontal section of a hinge to which my improvements have been applied.

The nature of my invention consists in connecting the two leaves of a but or other hinge of suitable'con struction, by a llexible and elastic rod or band of steel or brass, which is acted ou by one or more springs in such manner that the said leaves shall always close or come together when not held apart by external force or power.

To enable those skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I-will new proceed to -describe the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, by reference to the accompanying drawings. n

The hinge to which my improvements are applied differs in no respect from an ordinary hinge. Upon the exterior ot its leaves A B, and removed as far as possible from the joint zc, are tubes, C D, open at each end. These' tubes are placed in such position as to be at right angles to the leaves, and are respectively secured to `the leaves A B by ,solder or other suitable means. Instead, however, of being made separately from the leaves, they may, if desired, be formed or cast in one piece with them. 'At the points where they are secured to thc leaves, slots or openings, a b, are formed in the latter, the inner edgesor edges nearest the axis x-of such slots being bevelled. Within the tubes are placed spiral springs, c d, of suitable size to fit the interior of the tubes.v The springs, at their front ends, bear against the leaves A BV, and their rear ends are held in position as will be described. The two springs c (Land leaves A B, are connected by a iiexible and elastic rod or band,- E, of highly tempered metal. This rod extends from the` outer end of the tube C, through the slots a and b, into the tube D, at whose further endit is secured by'suitable means. It is placed within the `spiral springs c d, as shown in the drawings; That end of it which is in the tube C is heldin place by a circular plate or disk, e, which fits over it, and is held in place by a pin,f. The opposite end of the rod is -l1eld in the tube D by similar means. It will thus be seen that the springs c d bear at one end against their respective leaves A B, and at the other against the plates e, the latter being placed in such position on the rod E as to slightly courl press the springs within their tubes, and that by this means their constant tendency is to close or force together the leaves ofthc hinge. The hinge thus arranged is fastened to the door F and wall G, as shown in the drawing. In both door and wall suitable holes are bored, or otherwise made, to receive the' tubes C D, after which the hinge is secured in proper position by the ordinary. means. When the door F is opened, as shown in red lines -in the drawings, the leaves A B are separated, drawing out the rod E from the tubes, which rod, in being drawn cua-causes, by means of the plates c attached to each of its ends, the compression of the springs c cl. As soon as the hand is taken from the door the pressure'from the springs is removed, and they immediately expand, drawing back the rod E within the tubes, and closing the door. Que tube and spring may be used instead of the two shown in the drawing. In this' case the rod E will, of course, extend outfrom'the tube only far i enough to be connected with the opposite leaf. The employment of the highly tempered steel or brass,

band E as a connecting medium is advantageous in many respects. It can be used to much better advam tage than a chain or link, or other jointed connection, because it isnot only flexible, but also elastic, and Aalways-tends to reassumc the shape from which it is bent by the opening of thc door. It, moreover, has no joints, and therefore presents fewer points at which there is liability of its breaking; and, on account of'its smooth and even surface, friction is lessenechjand it is not liable to catch in the slots in the hinge through which it passes, thus rendering the employment of friction-rolls uness'ential. The springs, tube, and eonncctingrods may.be`,used separately from the hinge ii' desired, the springs, either with or without the surrouvndingsheaths, being placed'i'n cylindrical sockets formed in the door and in the jamb, as above described. When the tubes arefused their front ends should be closed, so as to afford a bearing surface to the springs, and so asto form aplate which can be secured to the door or jainb by screws, Sie. In case the .tubes are not`cm`ploycd, plates provided with openings similar to the slots a- Zu may be used for closing thc mouths of the sockets which contain the springs. The rod E is attached to and operates in connection with the springs in the manner above stated, whether the device be used with a hinge or separately therefrom. i- 4 lHaving described my invention, and the manner in which the saine is or may be carried into effect, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isy I. The Combination, wit-l1 the leaves of a hinge of otherwise ordinary or suitable construct-ion, of one or more compression springs, placed atright angles and transversely to such leaves, and connected by a iexiblc and elastic steel or brass' band, under the arrangement and for operation as herein shown and described.

2, The combination of the tubular shea-th 0r sheaths and the spiral spring with the elastic and flexible rod or bund, substantially :is shown and set forth. i

In testimony 'whereof I have signed my name to this specific-Mien before two subscribing witnesses.

` C. W. LAWRENCE.

Witnesses:

J. I-I. FRAZEE, GEO. A. HUM. 

